VW Passat Question

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Mon 19 Dec 2005 19:47
VW Passat Question - arrowst
I have recently purchased an 02 model Passat. All is running well, except for whenever I go over a bump in the road the front-end of the car seems to pull over to the left. i've driven it a few times and as best as I can figure the front wheels go over the bump okay, but when the rear wheels go over, the car moves left. The car appears to drive in a straight line okay on flat roads, and at reasonable speeds.

I suspect it maybe something to do with left rear shock absorber. Would this have this effect? or is it more likely to be another part of the suspension, or even something else altogether?

Any help would be appreciated
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Mon 19 Dec 2005 22:23
VW Passat Question - v8man
If you bought it from a dealer I suggest you take it back and get them to fix it.
--
\"Nothing less than 8 cylinders will do\"
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Mon 19 Dec 2005 22:56
VW Passat Question - arrowst
unfortunately it's "sold as seen", from a bca auction so I'm going to have to deal with it myself.

i took it to a VW garage, and they couldn't locate the problem (although they did a BAISSPAR (spelling?) which came back normal. They suggested maybe it had a bent chassis but I got a body shop to look at it, and they said it wasn't worth me paying for the test, as they could seen no evidence of a chassis problem.

Could a worn sock absorber or something similar, push the car in one direction? The rear left does not feel quite as springy as the other 3 corners of the car?
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Tue 20 Dec 2005 02:52
VW Passat Question - joshL
I had exactly the same problem on an A4, which is basically the same setup as the passat.
It tunred out to be a worn rear shock absorber, and a worn bush on the upper control arm. It would be a good idea to check these points to see whcih ones are worn. Its a common problem.
Rear shock was easy to do, but front arm was difficult to say the least!
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Fri 23 Dec 2005 15:20
VW Passat Question - arrowst
I will get it checked out by another garage asap.

I have been doing some research of my own, and the symptoms do seem to match something called a "bump steer" problem.

Does anyone know what would cause this, and if it's easily sorted by a garage?
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Fri 23 Dec 2005 15:29
VW Passat Question - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}
'Bump steer' was a 'characteristic' in the bad old days.
To get that nowadays something has got to be broken or badly worn. My 74k passat does not have anything untoward like you describe.
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Fri 23 Dec 2005 16:32
VW Passat Question - arrowst
hmmm, mine has done 73k. Lets hope the garage can spot something, otherwise I'm going to have consider a part-ex next year.
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